Correction switching device of wrist watch with electronic buzzer

ABSTRACT

A correction switching device for a wrist watch provided with an electronic buzzer, comprising a stem having at least three stable positions, and a setting mechanism and an electronic buzzer switch which are operated by said stem such that said setting mechanism is set in a time setting position when said winding stem is in one of said three stable positions and in an alarm setting position when said stem is in one of the other stable positions, and said electronic buzzer switch is set in the &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;off&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; position when said stem is at least in one of the stable positions other than that for time setting and in the &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;on&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; position when said stem is in the other stable positions.

United States Patent [191 Iinurna CORRECTION SWITCHING DEVICE OF WRIST WATCH WITH ELECTRONIC BUZZER [75] Inventor: Yoshio Iinuma, Hino, Japan [73] Assignee: Citizen Watch Co., Ltd., Tokyo, I 1 Japan 22 Filed: Feb. 23, 1973 21 Appl. No.: 335,277

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Feb. 25, 1972 Japan 47-19550 [52] US. Cl 58/38, 58/57.5, 58/85.5

[51] Int. CL. G04c 21/34, G04b 23/12, G04b 27/02 [58] Field of Search 58/23 R, 34, 38, 57.5,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,554,402 5/1951 Ditisheim 58/57.5

3,158,986 12/1964 Haydon ..58/38X [111 3 824 8 51 July 23, 1974 9/1967 Stampfli 58/38 X 3,638,418 2/1972 Spadini l 58/57.5 3,733,804 5/1973 Diersback 58738 Primary Examiner-Edith Simmons Jackmon Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Ladas, Parry, Von Gehr,

Goldsmith & Deschamps [57] ABSTRACT A correction switching device for a wrist watch provided with an electronic buzzer, comprising a stem having at least three stable positions, and a setting mechanism and an electronic buzzer switch which are operated by said stem such that said setting mechanism is set in a time setting position when said winding stem is in one of said three stable positions and in an alarm setting position when said stem is in one of the other stable positions, and said electronic buzzer switch is set in the off position when said stem is at least in one of the stable positions other than that for time setting and in the *on" position when said stem is in the other stable positions.

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CORRECTION SWITCHING DEVICE OF wRIsT WATCH wIT I ELECTRONIC BUZZER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION l. Field of the Invention This invention relates to a wrist watch with an electronic buzzer, which is so designed that various devices of the watchworks are operated only by a stem such as a winding arbor.

2. Description of the Prior Art In recent years, the function of a wrist watch has been diversified, and wrist watches having a waterproof mechanism and a calendar mechanism are generally being used. Further, it is expected that a wrist tronic'buzzer with the energysource be held in the FIG. 1(b) is a block diagram illustrating the on and off positions of the circuit when the stem is in the position shown in FIG. 1(a); I

FIG. 2(a) is a plan view similar to FIG. 1(a) but showing the stem being pulled-out one step and placed in an alarm setting position;

FIG. 2(b) is a block diagram similar to FIG. 1(b) and corresponding to FIG. 2(a);

off positionJTherefore, the wrist watch equipped with the electronic buzzer, in addition to water-proof and calendar mechanisms, must, similar to the mechanical alarm wrist watch, be provided with an alarm setting and a buzzer switch mechanisms. Further, it'is preferable that the wrist watch is provided with a hair spring mechanism where it is of a mechanical type, and with a switch for the watch driving circuitwhere it is of a battery-operated type, in addition to a time setting mechanism which is necessary for any watch. On the other hand, it is generally undesirable to provide a water-proof wristwatch with a push button, etc. in addition to the winding arbor, fromthe standpoint of waterproofness and the construction or appearance of the casing. I

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been. achieved in view of the foregoingand has for its object the provision of a wrist watch with an electronic buzzer, which is so designed that all devices are operated only by a stem such as winding arbor. 1 I

According to the present invention there is provided a wrist watch with an electronic buzzer, which comprises a stem such as a winding arbor having a plurality of stable positions, a setting mechanism for effecting time setting in one of the stable positions of said stem and for effecting alarm setting and calendar correction at each of the other stable positions of said winding arbor, and an electronic buzzer switch opened and closed by a member of said setting mechanism, said electronic buzzer switch being open at least at a portion thereof when said stem is in a stable position other than for time setting, whereby all operations can be carried out by the single stem without changing the time indication during the operations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 3(a) is a plan view similar to FIG. 1 (a) but showing the stem being pulled-out two steps and placed in a time setting position;

FIG. 3(b) is a block diagram similar to FIG. 1(b) and corresponding to FIG. 3(a); and

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line IV-IV' of FIG. 1(a).

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A stem 1 is formed with a groove for the insertion of a setting lever axle 6a. A date correcting wheel 3 is loosely mounted on a columnar portion of the stem 1 and a crown 2 is fixed to one or outer end of the winding arbor 1 by means of a screw, while a clutch wheel 4 is loosely mounted on a quardrangular portion at the other end of the stem 1. The arrangement is such that, when the crown is pushed or pulled, a clutch lever 5 having one end 5a engaged in an annular groove 40 of the clutch wheel 4 is operated by a clutch pushing pin 6b of the setting lever 6, whereby the clutch wheel 4 on the quadrangular portion of the stem 1 is shifted. The clutch wheel 4 is rotatably supportedby a pin 14 pro vided on a lower plate 20. The clutch lever 5 has an end portion 5a for engagement with the annular groove 4a of the clutch wheel 4, an elastic portion 5b and three stepped portions 5c for engagement with the clutch pushing pin 6b of the setting lever 6. The stepped portions determine the positions of the setting lever 6 and the stem 1 to engage said setting lever 6, and control the position of the end portion 5a of the clutch lever 5 to determine the position of the clutch wheel 4 to engage the date correcting wheel 3 or a setting wheel 7. The clutch wheel 4 and the date correcting wheel 3 are intermeshing each other through ratchet teeth 4b and 3a thereof. When the clutch wheel 4 rotates integrally with the stem 1, the date correcting wheel 3 r0- tates in one direction together withthe clutch wheel 4 for date correction. In the other direction, the rotation of the date correcting wheel 3 is stopped when a resistance is applied thereto. Reference numeral 21 designates a date dial which is indicated by the phantom line is FIGS. l-3.

A rocking bar wheel 8 is rotatably mounted on a rocking bar 9 and held in meshing engagement with the setting wheel 7. The setting wheel 7 and the rocking bar 9 are rotatably mounted on the lower plate 20 by a screw 23. One end of the rocking bar 9 is provided with a projecting pin 9a which is engaged in a curved slot of the setting lever 6. An alarm setting correcting wheel 10 is arranged such that its alarm setting correcting gear 10a will engage an alarm wheel 11 and its-alarm setting correcting pinion 10b with the rocking bar wheel 8 when the alarm setting is to be corrected. A minute wheel and pinion 12 is meshing with a cannon wheel 13, etc. and will be brought into meshing engagement with the rocking bar wheel 8 when a time is to be set A terminal 15 of a watch driving circuit and a terminal 16 of a buzzer circuit respectively consist of elastic members made of an electrically conductive material and are fixed to the lower plate 20 by means of screws 17, 59 but electrically insulated therefrom. One ends 15a, 16a of these terminals are provided with contacts 15b, 16b respectively which are made of an electrically insulating material and engaged by a switch pin 6d of the setting lever, whereby the contact between an earth terminal 19 projecting upright from the lower plate and the terminal 15 of the watch driving circuit or the terminal 16 of the buzzer circuit or, in other words, switching is controlled. Reference numeral 22 in the I block diagrams of FIGS. 1(b), 2(b) and 3(b) designate an alarm switch of the buzzer circuit.

As stated previously, the winding arbor has three stable positions. In FIG. 1(a), the stem is in the most pushed-in position, and the wrist watch is carried, normally with the stem in this position. The crown, when turned in the direction of the arrow, rotates the clutch wheel 4 which in turn rotates the date correcting wheel 3 meshing therewith, whereby a date is corrected. The terminal 15a of the watch driving circuit and the terminal 16a of the buzzer circuit are both in contact with the earth terminal 19, maintaining the watch in operation and the buzzer in a state ready to sound an alarm as soon as the alarm switch 22 is turned on.

Now, when the crown 2 is pulled out one step or placed in the position shown in FIG. 2(a), the clutch lever pushing pin 6b of the setting lever 6 engages the central one of the stepped portions 50 of the clutch lever, and the end portion a of said clutch lever releases the clutch wheel 4 from meshing engagement with the date correcting wheel 3 and brings it into meshing engagement with the setting wheel 7. The rocking bar wheel 8 which is normally held in meshing engagement with the setting wheel 7, is brought into engagement with alarm setting correcting pinion 10b. When the crown 2 is turned in this state, the rotation thereof is transmitted to the alarm setting wheel 11 as described above, whereby alarm setting is achieved. In this case, the terminal 150 of the watch driving circuit is in contact with the earth terminal 19 and hence the watch is maintained in operation. The terminal 16a of the buzzer circuit is out of contact with the earth terminal 19, so that the buzzer will not be actuated even if the alarm setting switch 22 is turned on. Next, when the crown 2 is further pulled out one step or placed in the position shown in FIG. 3(a), the rocking bar 9 is turned in the clockwise direction by the curved slot 60 of the setting lever 6, while the projecting pin 9a of the rocking bar 9 is held in engagement with said curved slot 6c, and the rocking bar wheel 8 pivoted on the rocking bar 9 is set in a position to engage the minute wheel and pinion 12. Time setting can be achieved by turning the crown 2 in this state. In this case, the terminal 15a of the watch driving circuit and the terminal 16a of the buzzer circuit are both out of contact with the earth terminal 19, so that the watch is held inoperative and the buzzer will not be actuated even if the alarm setting 7 switch is turned on.

The positions of the respective switches and the operation performed by the stem, in each stable position of the stem according to the embodiment described above, will be summarized in the table given below, in which the positions of the winding arbor are represented by numerals l, 2, 3 sequentially from the most pushed-in position.

Position Watch Buzzer Stem operation of stem switch switch I on on Date correction 2 on off Alarm setting 3 off off Time setting According to such arrangement, the buzzer switch is turned on and the buzzer is actuated at the preset time, with the stem or crown being in the most push-in position. It is generally preferable that the stem be in its most push-in position during using the watch, for such reasons that it is easy to carry the watch, that inadvertent push-in of the stem can be avoided, and that the stem position is not subjected to the influence of movement of the arm on which the watch is worn. Further, when the buzzer is actuated at the preset time, the alarm sound can be stopped by pulling out the stem one step and, when the operation of the buzzer is not desired, the buzzer can be held inoperative even if the preset alarm time has come, by holding the stem in the position one step out of the most push-in position. The buzzer is not actuated even when the preset time has come during the time setting operation. Arranging the watch such that the buzzer is actuated in the time setting position is advantageous in that it is easy to match a preset alarm time and an indicated time in the process of assembly and in that the actuation of the buzzer can be confirmed beforehand by the time setting operation. Various combinations of the stem position and stem operation are possible by varying the cam shapes of the contacts 15b, 16b of the terminals l5, 16 or by varying the shape of the setting lever 6. An example of different combination is shown in the table given below:

Position Watch Buzzer Stem operation of stem switch switch I on off Date correction 2 on on Alarm setting 3 off off Time setting According to the arrangement shown above, the actuation of the buzzer can be confirmed in the alarm setting position. In the event when the operation of the buzzer is not desired, all that is necessary is to push in the stem beforehand, and this is convenient for the persons who use the buzzer on few occasions. Further, when the buzzer is sounding alarm at the preset time, the alarm can be stopped simply by pushing the stem in.

According to the present invention, the watch switch and buzzer switch, or various mechanisms such as a calendar correcting mechanism, an alarm setting mechanism and a time setting mechanism, can be operated by the stem only. Therefore, additional operating members are not required which would otherwise be necessary. Accordingly, extra holes need not be bored through the watch casing. This facilitates the manufacture of the watch casing and, in case of the watch casing being water-proof, eliminates water-proof means other than that for the stem passage hole, which would otherwise be required for such extra holes. The wrist watch according to the invention, therefore, is the same as the ordinary one in respect of water-proofness and appearance. In the event when it is unnecessary to actuate the buzzer, the watch is not placed in out of order by inadvertent rotation of the stem, because the stem has, in addition to the time setting position, another stable position in which the buzzer switch is held in the off position. Further, it is easy to stop the alarm at an intermediate point of the alarm sounding period, without imposing any adverse affect on the watch operation. Thus, the present invention has excellent advantages.

I claim:

1. A correction switching device for a wrist watch provided with an electronic buzzer, comprising a. a stern having at least three stable positions,

b. a setting mechanism for setting time and for setting alarm means operated by said stem to be set in a time setting position when said stem is in one of said three stable positions and in an alarm setting position when said stem is in one of the other stable positions, and

c. an electronic buzzer switch to determine whether current is given to said buzzer operated by said stem to be set in the of position when said stem is in the alarm setting position and in the on position when said stem is in the stable position other than the time setting position and the alarm setting position.

2. A correction switching device according to claim 1, in which said electronic buzzer switch is in the of position when said stem is in the alarm setting position. l= l 

1. A correction switching device for a wrist watch provided with an electronic buzzer, comprising a. a stem having at least three stable positions, b. a setting mechanism for setting time and for setting alarm means operated by said stem to be set in a time setting position when said stem is in one of said three stable positions and in an alarm setting position when said stem is in one of the other stable positions, and c. an electronic buzzer switch to determine whether current is given to said buzzer operated by said stem to be set in the ''''off'''' position when said stem is in the alarm setting position and in the ''''on'''' position when said stem is in the stable position other than the time setting position and the Alarm setting position.
 2. A correction switching device according to claim 1, in which said electronic buzzer switch is in the ''''off'''' position when said stem is in the alarm setting position. 